The Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) recently partnered for a $50 million project to facilitate faster and more reliable transit trips and strengthen multimodal connections.
The trips are along an east-west corridor that runs from the Fox Ridge community in eastern Baltimore County through downtown Baltimore to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in western Baltimore County.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the project a $22 million 2021 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program grant. MDOT invested $18 million, and BCDOT invested $10 million.
“By delivering more than 10 lane miles of dedicated bus lanes, real-time signage, upgraded bus shelters, and enhanced pedestrian and bicycle safety, this project that will improve access to jobs, health care, and education for city residents,” Greg Slater, MDOT secretary, said.
The project will add bus lanes along at least 10 miles on a route currently served by the CityLink Blue and Orange. It also will add ADA access improvements to more than 100 bus stops, add a 1.5-mile on-street buffered bicycle lane, upgrade signals at select intersections, and add crosswalks and curb extensions.
The project is expected to shorten transit commute times and improve transit reliability.